Electric-lighting system



3' Sheets-Sheet: 1.

(No Model.)

J. A. GALVIN.

ELEOTR'IG LIGHTING SYSTEM.

Patented Feb. 19, 1889. 12 1 (No Model.)

3 SheetsSheet 2. J. A. GALVIN.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM.

N0. 397,906. Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

mm, 1, w a 1 g WW I J w,

Lilmgnphnr. wan-1 m u. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J..A. GALVI-N;

I 'ELEGTRIG LIGHTING SYSTEM. No. 397,906. Patented Feb. 19,1889.

ilnirnn STAT S PATENT @rricn.

JAMES A. GALVIN, OF STEELTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRlC- LIGHTiNG SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,906, dated February 19, 1889.

Application filed April 16, 1888. Serial No. 270,799. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. GALVIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Steelton, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Incandescent Electric- Light Systems, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to an improvement in incandescent electric-light systems; and it consists in the combination of the main lines having lamps in multiple arc and branch lines having groups of lamps in multiple are, said branch lines beingarranged in series with relation to each other and connected to the main lines, whereby the power of. the lamps inthe said branch lines will. be reduced without affecting the power of the lamps in the main lines.

My invention further consists in the combination of the main line, the branch lines having the electric lamps, the switch' for connecting said branch lines with the main lines either in series with each other or with the main lines in multiple are, and the shunt-circuit, including one or more electric lamps and adapted to be c mneeted to or disconnected from the main line; and my invention further consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for reducing the intensity of the electric la-i'nps included in the branch circuits without affecting the lamps in the main circuit and without including rheostats or other resistances in the branch lines to preservethe electrical balance.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1. is a diagram of an electric-light system embodying my improvements, showing the branch conductors connected with the main conducting-wires in multiple arc and arranged for burning the lamps with full brilliancy. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the branch lines or conductors connected with the main conducting-lines in series, so as to reduce'the brilliancy of the lights; and Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the branch lines connected with the shunt-circuit and with the main line in series, so as to still further reduce the brilliancy of the lights. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the system arranged for lighting a theater or other building, and illustrating my improved switch for connecting the branch lines or conductors with the main lines or conductors either in series or in multiple arc. Figs. 5 and (3 are detail views of myimproved switch.

I have discovered that by connecting branch lines or conductors of' an electric-light system with the main line or conductor in series with each other the brilliancy of the lights will be reduced, and I have further discovered that by including a shunt-circuit or conductor having electric lamps with the main and branch lines in series the brilliancy of the lights in the branch lines will. be still-further reduced.

It becomes of importance in theaters, hotels, depots, and other public edifices employing the incandescent system of electric lamps to vary the brilliancy of the lamps in the branch lines without affecting the brilliancy of the lamps, if any, included in the main line of conductors. This has been heretofore accomplished by including rheostats with the branch lines, so as to offer additional resistances to the electric current. This mode is objectionable on account of the cost of the rheostats and of their liability to get out of order; and is further objectionable on account of impra-cticability of providing every building in which electric lights are used with such rhecstats by reason of the cost of the same.

Reverting to my improved apparatus for varying the intensity of the lights in the branch lines, in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 00 represents the main wires or conductors, of which 17 is the positive wire and n is the negative wire. The usual incandescent lamps, i, are connected to the said negative and positive wires of the main line in the usual manner, as shown.

d represents branch lines or conductors, of which there are two or more, and in each of which is included one or a series of incandescent lamps, l.

1 represents a coinlueting-wire, which connects one pole of one of the branch lines with the main negative wire 72.

2 represents a conducting-wire, which con neets opposite poles of the branch lines, and 3 represents a conducting-wire, which connects one pole of the last of the series of branch lines with the main positive wire 1).

"t represents a conducting-wire, which connects one pole oi one of the branchlines with the main positive wire p, and 5 represents conducting-wires, which connect similar poles of the branch lines to themain negative wire main and branch lines, as will be understood.

In order to cause the lamps in the branch 3 wires (l to burn with full power, the wires or conductors and 7 are opened, so as to cause the current to pass from the main wires p and n, through the wires -,l, 5, and $3, to the branch lines (I in multiple are in the usual manner. in order to reduce the power of the lamps l, the wire l is opened, so as to break the circuit, and the wire is closed, so as to make the circuit, and the current then flows from themain wires throl'lgh the branch wires d, the latter being thereby connected to the main wires in series and causing the lamps l to add so much resistance to the branch lines as to reduce the brilliancy ol. the lights.

In order to still. further reduce the brilliancyot' the lamps I, the wire it. is open, so as to llll'tl'pUHO the branch line ti in the circuit with the main lines and branch lines (I, and thercb interposing so much additional resistance to the branch lines connected in series that the lamps I will burn very dimly. .l'ly cutting out; one or more of the lamps K in the branch circuit tgtheIamps'Iin thebranch circuits (1 will burn still less brilliantly, and this process of cutting out the lamps Kin the branch. circuit 0 may be cont iuucd until the line U is connected in slnmt-circnit with the represents a conducting-wire which is connected to the opposite wire-say, the negative wire-0f the main line. 13 represents a conducting-wire which is connected to the negative wire of the main line at a point between the branch lines (I. ()nc pole oti one of the branch lines has a condilcting-wire, 1\,attached thereto, and from the opposite pole of the said branch line extends a wire, W, which connects with a wire, lit, and also connects with a wire, AF. From one pole of the other branch line, (1, extends a corn'luctiug-wire, U, and front the t'ip losite pole of the la iier branch line extends a co'ndliicting-wire, U, which connects with the positive wire of the main line.

1) represents a switch-lmard, which is provided with a series oti birn'li'ng-posts,A, l .l), A, A'-, 13*, B", and A", which are connected to the simi larly-lettcred con ducting-wires before described.

(i represents a ctmducting-platc, which is arranged on the switch-board and is connected. to the binding-post A. Y) represents a conducting-phitc, which is connected to a suitable wire or electrical (OlltlllOlUL' having a switch which is adapted to be connected to or disconnected from the post ll by means of a is a conducting-plate which is electrically connected to the post current passing through the filaments in the lamps] will be onlysut'tieitmt to heat said til aments to a red heat, and thereby almost en tirely extinguish the light.

Figs. 2, and 3 and the foregoing description disclose the elementary principles of my invention. I will. innvprocced to describe my imrn'oved system of electric lights as reduced to practice and adapted for use in theaters or other buildings, in which it may be desirable to vary the brilliancy ot the lights in the branch lines without all'ecting the lights in wire, which is connected to one of the wiressay, the positive wireot the main line.

A. t) represents a condnoting-plate whichv is electrically comiectedto the post lt and to a contaetw mint, /t. u represents a conducting plate which is electrically-connectcd to the post A a." represents a ctnlductingplate, which is electrically connected to the post A. U represents a et'nlducting-plate which is electrically connected to the post B and IF represents a condnet ing-plate which is electrically ct'lnnected to the post ll". The said condacting-plates are arranged in two conwntrie circles, the plates (1, a, a, and c. constituting arcs of the inner circle, and the plates I), Z1, 0'', and. U constituting arcs of the outer circle, and all of said plates being arranged at such a distance apartthat the space between them cannot be traveled by an electric are when said plates are dis onnected.

ll represents a revoluble hub or disk which is pivoted on the swit ch-board and is arranged eonccntrically with the conducting plates. The said hub or disk. is provided with a pair of radial connected comlncting-arms, l which are adapted to make and break connection between the plates and (1 2a similar pair of connected radial conductirig-arms, G, which are adapted to make and b rcak. connections between the plates at a, a sector-shaped eonlltilCllllg-ttlll, l, which is adapted to make and break connection between the plates b and a, and is at all times in electrical contact with the plate I); and said hub or disk is further pro-- K, which are connected electrically to a contact-point, m, and to a contact-point, n, which latter has a switch-arm, 0, that is adapted to make and break connection with the point h. The switch-arm. g before described is adapted to make and break connections between the post B and either of the points m n.

In the center of the switch-board D,on the front side thereof or in the opposing side of the disk or hub, is made a recess, through which extends the pivotal shaft '7" of said disk or hub, and attached rigidly to the said shaft is an arm, 3, which projects in opposite directions therefrom. i represents a pair of extensile coiled springs, which have their outer ends connected to fixed points in line with the center of the shaft, and have their inner ends connected to the ends of the arms 8.

The operation of my invention is as follows: \Vhen the switch-lever g is in contact with the point n and the disk or hub of the switch is turned so as to make connection between the plates o a, the plates 1) and b, the plates a? and a, and the plates b and b the branch lines (I are connected with the main line in multiple are, as shown in solid lines in Fig. -'l, and illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1. \Vhen the switch, disk, or hub is turned so as to disconnect the plates a, If, (F, and b and establish connection between the plates a, b, a, and b", as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the branch lines (Z will be connected with each other in series and with the main line, the wires A, B, A and B being dead or open-circuited. XV hen thus arranged with the branch lines connected in series with the main line, thebrilliancy of the lamps in said branch lines will be very much reduced, and will only give forth a soft mellow light. This arrangement of the system corresponds with that illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2. In order to still further reduce the power of the lamps in the branch circuits d, the switcharm g is caused to make cont-act with the contact-point on of the multiple'arc circuit 6, so as to connect said circuit in series with the branch circuits (Z and the main line, this arrange ment cm'respondin with that illustrated diagrammath-ally in Fig. 3. By cutting out one or more of the lamps in thecircuit (3 the lights will still further be reduced, as before stated. By cutting off all of the lamps in the said circuit 6 the connection between the branch and main lines will be broken, and the lamps in the branch lines will be entirely extinguished, as will be readily understood. \Vhen the hub or disk of the switch is turned, its initial movement is resisted by the springs t, as the latter become compressed by the arms 3, until said arms reach the dead-center,

or, in other words, align with the outer ends of the springs. As the disk or hub is turned past the dead-center, the said springs expand and thereby throw the switch instantaneously to the end of its movement, and thus cause the switch to so rapidly change the connections between the wires as to almost entirely prevent sparking.

For the purpose of description, Ihave hereinbefore referred to the terminals of the branch circuits as being connected, respectively, with the positive and negative wires of the main line; but I do not wish to limit myself to the precise arrangement of the conductingavires hereinbefore described, as the same may be varied without impairing the efficiency of the system or departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of the main conductors having the lamps in multiple arc, the branch conductors having the lamps in multiple are, and having one terminal connected to one main conductor and the other connected to an electrode, a the similar branch conductor with multiplearc lamps, and having one terminal provided with an electrode, a, and the other connected to electrodes 1), b and a the electrode a, connected to the same main conductor, the electrodes 12 and I), connected to the other main conductor, and the circuitclosers between the electrodes h b b b a a a? (o substantially as described.

2. The combination of the main conductors having the lamps in multiple arc, the'branch conductors having the lamps in multiple arc and having one terminalconnected to one main conductor and the other terminal connected to an electrode, a the similar branch conductors with multiple-arc lamps and having one terminal provided with an electrode, a, and the other connected to electrodes 1), b and a the elect-rode a, connected to the same main conductor, the electrodes 19 and I), connected to the other main conductor, the circuit-closers between the electrodes 1) b, b If, (t a, and (t a, and the shunt-circuit with multiple-arc lamps, and the switches to connect the terminals of said shunt-circuit to the electrodes 1) b, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. GALVIN.

lVitnesses:

J. H. SIGGERS, E. G. Srocnns.

ITO 

